n. [ F. drège, dreige, fish net, from a word akin to E. draw; cf. D. dreg, dregge, small anchor, dregnet dragnet. √73. See Draw. ] 1. Any instrument used to gather or take by dragging; as: (a) A dragnet for taking up oysters, etc., from their beds. (b) A dredging machine. (c) An iron frame, with a fine net attached, used in collecting animals living at the bottom of the sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mining) Very fine mineral matter held in suspension in water. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dredged p. pr. & vb. n. Dredging. ] To catch or gather with a dredge; to deepen with a dredging machine. R. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dredging machine, a machine (commonly on a boat) used to scoop up mud, gravel, or obstructions from the bottom of rivers, docks, etc., so as to deepen them. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. dragge, F. dragée, dredge, also, sugar plum; cf. Prov. dragea, It. treggea; corrupted fr. LL. tragemata, pl., sweetmeats, Gr. tragh`mata, fr. trw`gein to gnaw. ] A mixture of oats and barley. [ Obs. ] Kersey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sift or sprinkle flour, etc., on, as on roasting meat. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dredging box. (a) Same as 2d Dredger. (b) (Gun.) A copper box with a perforated lid; -- used for sprinkling meal powder over shell fuses. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who fishes with a dredge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A dredging machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Cookery) A box with holes in its lid; -- used for sprinkling flour, as on meat or a breadboard; -- called also dredging box, drudger, and drudging box. [ 1913 Webster ]